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The importance of good quality rest

Have you ever experienced waking up feeling exhausted or that you haven’t really slept well? Some of us actually experience that every day and think its a norm. Its not. And it can be because of several reasons:

Shift work, resulting in disruption to our circadian rhythm.

Family obligations or demanding jobs that require our time and attention

Medical reasons such as depression, sleep apnea, hormonal imbalances and other chronic illnesses

And the environment that we sleep in.

Chronic lack of sleep can result many detrimental effects on our health and can affect our memory, mood, sex life and our appearance. So its definitely something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

One of the factors that is easily within our control is our sleep environment and that includes the lighting, noise, temperature and our bedding.

HEAVENLUXE bedsheets are made of Austrian Tencel™

I really like the fact that Heavenluxe uses Austrian Tencel™ to make their sheets and pillowcases because it is significantly more comfortable that cotton sheets, and especially so in our environment here in Singapore. We don’t need to stay warm, in fact we need sheets that keep us cool and dry.

Here are the other reasons why I like these sheets so much:

Heavenluxe’s Austrian Tencel™ sheets have ZERO environmental impact as part of their manufacturing

Free from harmful pesticides and insecticides unlike cotton which uses about 16% of the world’s insecticides.

Requires 96% less use of water

requires 30% less energy to manufacture.

Eco-friendliness is such a plus point of this company and I’m extremely happy that I’m using a product that supports it.

These bed sheets and pillow cases are crazy comfortable!

The material used in Heavenluxe’s lyocell fabric is made from eucalyptus wood pulp which also happens to be a renewable natural material. Compared to even bamboo fabric, eucalytus tencel is even more eco-friendly and the material is more breathable. The waste products that result from making these fabric are more biodegradable, cause minimal impact on the environment and are considered harmless.

Even my hair loves these sheets and pillow cases!

No more crazy hair!

You know how you sometimes wake up and your hair ends up looking like you got electrocuted?

Well I get that sometimes when I sleep on lousy pillowcases and bedsheets. That frizzy look occurs when we sleep on bedding that causes the rubbing of our hair against rough materials. And I don’t get that at all with the smooth fabric of Heavenluxe’s Austrian Tencel™. Love it!

So yeah, I’m definitely feeling more well rested when I get to sleep on Heavenluxe’s crazily comfortable sheets and pillowcases and I actually look forward to going to bed because its just so cosy! You really have to feel it for yourself.

Find out more about Heavenluxe and how they also contribute to local charities to benefit children with each sale they make by visiting their website at https://heavenluxe.com

I waited so impatiently to finally get to drive this baby around and I now fully understand what all the hype is about around the 2018 KIA Stinger GT. This high performance 5-door sports saloon is the first rear-wheel drive model that KIA has ever produced.

Powerful Performance and Sound to boot

Designed with passion fuelling the ideas behind its every detail, the Stinger definitely gave me a driving experience that displayed power, agility and practicality. The most powerful of KIA cars to date, this car features a twin-turbo V6 engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This smooth ride delivers 370 horsepower and with the engine room and dash getting extra insulation and padding that quiets the joints of the body pillars and frames, its no surprise how quiet and smooth the drive can be, unless you’re playing your favourite tunes with the 15-speaker Harmon/Kardon premium sound system.

Even the side mirrors and doors are designed to reduce noise and drag. This sound system even includes subwoofers that resonate in the hollow parts of the frame and body.

I was so impressed by the quietness within while driving when I turned off the audio. But when the music was on….. WOAH. You’ve gotta sit in it to experience the magic of having the vibrations move you. I truly felt the beats from the tunes I was playing.

Smart and Thoughtful Design

What’s strikes it as such a comfortable car to drive has got to its ventilated front and back seats that made it oh so comfortable to drive even on those scorching hot days. It’s able to also bring heat to backs and bottoms of passengers on cold days. Both the seat cushion and seatback feature airflow perforations to keep your body in state of comfort.

With 5 modes to choose from the Drive Mode Select that can easily be switched at the turn of a dial located just behind the shift lever, I actually wished I could be driving this car somewhere else in the world where the speed limits are higher, haa! It was a great experience switching between the different modes that adjusted operations of the engine, transmission, suspension and steering. Even the engine sound could be manipulated!

I literally went oooooh when I first saw the Head-Up Display turn one once the engine started! Visible both in the day and night, the key driving information like your driving speeds is projected onto your windshield in your line of sight so that you can safely focus on the road ahead.

I also really like the wireless charging ability for my mobile phone, meaning there’s no messy wires laying around and getting tangled.

Daytime displayNight time display. Clearly visible even when it’s raining.

Fivedoor Fastback Layout

With 406 litres of cargo capability, this fivedoor fastback layout means plenty of space for me to store all my workout gear, my baby’s stroller and much more! I can even reach all these items easily because the rear hatch lifts to reveal a very broad opening.

The rear seat backs even split and fold 60:40 so you can even put longer items into the car. And with the Smart Power Tailgate, I can conveniently load my stuff into the boot even when my hands are full carrying my kiddo or bags. All you have to do is have the key with you when you stand close to the rear of the car and the lid of the Smart Power Tailgate opens automatically within 3 seconds! Definitely a great help for mommies like me.

Driving this car definitely made it a joy for me to be zooming around instead of just a means to get from one place to the next. Thank you KIA for making driving fun again!

Taking on a detox program for 21 days might seem daunting for many. But if you think about the time we spend putting toxic stress on ourselves through modern lifestyle, its makes perfect sense to commit to a detoxification program once in a while.

I recently completed the 2OneReset by Body Inc. and I have to say…. I only wish I’d done this earlier. Even for someone like myself who is considered very healthy, I was flabbergasted to realise how much toxins there were in my body because of sugar and processed foods consumption that takes time to be eliminated from our systems. Although I had a visceral fat level of 3 on a scale of 1 to 12 (1 being on the extreme good end and 12 on the other end), I was motivated to bring it down further to a 2 or 1 by incorporating the treatments and natural supplements from Body Inc. to safely achieve that.

First consultation with Jacelyn to assess my needs.

Jacelyn explaining more about the dangers of having high levels of visceral fat and what can be done to lower it.

One of the key indicators of optimum health is our visceral fat content although more often that not we tend to look at just our BMI (Body Mass Index) and Body Fat Composition. So what is Visceral Fat?

body fat that is stored within the abdominal cavity and around internal organs such as the liver, pancreas and intestines (different from the subcutaneous fat that is stored under our skin)

high levels of visceral fat is associated with a number of health risks including type II diabetes, heart disease, colorectal cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

research shows that the size of our belly is a relatively reliable indicator of the health risks associated with visceral fat.

A holistic approach towards better and optimum health.

With fully qualified and certified practitioners in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine, Osteopathy and Naturopathy, there’s no doubt that they use non-invasive and natural means to help you on your path to wellness. Natural ingredients are heavily used as part of the process and I really appreciate that they are not one of those quick-fix proponents.

One component of this 21-days program is to consume the nourishing and detoxifying supplements that contain beneficial ingredients to our health such as Lingzhi, Cordyceps, Vitamin B, Omega oils, and so much more.

The other component involved treatments such as the Ion Osmosis Detox treatment, sauna therapy and the deep IR (infrared) lamp treatment to benefit the digestive organs. All these treatments have detoxification benefits and are non-invasive which I fully appreciate. And after each session I always feel so much lighter somehow.

The Ion Osmosis Detox was the one treatment that I did each time I came by to Body Inc. and it works by using electrolytic effects between the electrodes and water to produce large amounts of negative and positive ions. It is based on ionization of water and osmosis of these energy ions to draw toxins out from the body through the 20,000 pores on the soles of our feet under the effects of the electric field. I tend to see the end result (which takes just 30 mins) as a mirror of the set of my health. It clearly shows when I’ve consumed too much sugar and starches, when my lactic acid levels are high, if my body is experiencing inflammation or when my dietary fat consumption is excessive. Of course it also shows a lot more than all this if you see the chart below.

Over the course of the program I noticed that the water at the end of the treatment (originally clear) became less brown, thank goodness. This basically means that my body now contains less free radicals.

The water starts off clear

At the end of the treatment it usually becomes this shade of brown for me because of the free radicals in my body. But it also contains some black and green specks.

The sauna treatment and deep IR treatment was also fairly comfortable and I actually do see myself going back for these treatments once in awhile even though I’ve completed the 21 days course.

In the midst of the deep IR treatment.

All in all I’d have to say I’m always impressed by the amount of attentiveness and professionalism by the staff here whenever I drop in and they never fail to answer the questions that I have.

Upon completion of the program, the improvements I’ve noticed for myself include:

consistent energy levels throughout the day

more clarity of thought

better quality of sleep

reduction in visceral fat to a 2

clearer skin

I had made it clear that I had no intention of losing weight since my body fat levels are already considerably low at 21%, and on average people tend to lose 6 to 7kg on this program, so Jacelyn encouraged me to consume more food and I did. Even so, by the end of the 21st day, my body fat dropped to 19% and my muscle mass increased although I did lose 1kg.

This definitely is a sound program to be on and is sustainable even in the long run. And coming from someone who studied nutrition, it truly is about educating individuals to eat intelligently for our needs and to allow our bodies to heal, detox and rejuvenate the way it was meant to.

Thank you Body Inc. and Jacelyn for the amazing experience. I will definitely be dropping by for the treatments on and off just to undo the stress of what our modern environment tends to do to us.

I love travelling to explore different places and discover new things.

But for me to travel long hours to the same place multiple times, there has to be a very good reason….. and here she is- my sister and my only sibling.

I always knew I’m a very lucky girl ever since I was little because I’ve been gifted with such an amazing older sibling who looks out for me and shares the same views and beliefs. She’s the reason why I emphasise so much about sibling love to my kids and I credit this wonderful human being for shaping me into the person I am today. (Yes mom and pops, you guys too!)

The list of all the craziness we were up to all week!

I’d go through anything with you (about that naked onsen though…) and I know we’ll have fun through it all.

Each time I’m here with you it’s a new experience and more unforgettable memories that I’ll hold dear for life.

We checked off the shenanigans list (and then some) that you prepared so we can be silly together while I’m here, we spotted herds of wild deer in the nearby mountains, hunted for wild mushrooms, visited an owl cafe and reptile store and so much more. I have managed to escaped your plans to make me go for naked onsen together for a few years now…. but I have a feeling that I’ll resent and give in to that ridiculous idea soon, just cos I love you so much!

Thank you for scaling mountains and hunting for waterfalls with me.

Thank you for introducing me to wonderful people who declared the #Dawnpose.

Thank you for taking me out to wonderful places and my first experience to a Sake Festival.

For making me feel so loved and cared for…..

For making sure that I’m safe and surrounded by positive people like yourself.

Thank you for being such an important part of my life Jie. I love you. Till my next visit again to Japan.

I’m very fortunate that I have good eyesight apart from the fact that I’m night-blind, because this means that I don’t need to wear glasses. But for the sake of protecting my eyes from sun
damage, I do still need to wear sunglasses and here’s where I have a problem. My nose-bridge is almost non-existent and this means glasses sit on my cheeks instead of my nose.

So I was very thankful when I got to meet Dr. Terence Tan from Halley Medical Aesthetics and understood how a threadlift treatment done to my nose bridge could help me with this problem. The best part is how it would also help enhance the features of my nose without surgery or implants.
Threadlift is a minimally invasive treatment used to:
– help tighten the skin
– contour and help rejuvenate the face, neck, and eye area
– enhance the shape of the nose

How does the Threadlift procedure work?

This non-surgical procedure uses absorbable ultra-fine threads with anchors, like cones, which are inserted under the skin and act like scaffolds. This has a lifting effect on sagging skin.

These threads work to continuously stimulate the skin over time to produce collagen for a long-lasting and natural looking lift, and the effects can last up to 2 years.
Because the threads are anchored on to the skin, it stays where it’s inserted.

During the consultation with Dr. Terence Tan, he explained to me about how the procedure would help me achieve a more contoured nose bridge and my nose tip.

He recommended the Y-KO/N-Finders PDO (polydioxanone) threads for my nose threadlift treatment. He also explained that these threads use cogs or tiny hooks for anchoring, which would eventually become fully absorbed by the body. I was so relieved that no incisions or stitches were necessary at all. Yay!

What I really appreciate about this procedure is how it’s not invasive like rhinoplasty, and yet the effects can last beyond two years because of how collagen and blood vessels would have grown around the treatment site. So the nose would still look more contoured as compared to pre-procedure.

Yes, even after having been through 4 C-sections, I still cannot stand the thought of getting cut at all. Shudders….. So knowing that this procedure would not involve any incision was very reassuring.

Can you see the relief on my face?

This is the product that Dr. Terence Tan used for my nose threadlift procedure. The Y-KO/N-Finders PDO thread is fully absorbable by the body and the ultrafine thread would be inserted under the skin at the targeted area where it would stimulate the production of collagen and fibroblasts. This process leaves no scars and the skin lifting and contouring effects are immediate.

The Procedure

Looking forward to the procedure after having all my questions answered.

Dr. Terence Tan marked a line at the centre of my nose to serve as a guide during treatment.

Local anesthetic was also applied before the thread was inserted.

I hardly felt any discomfort at all after the anesthetic kicked in and as the threads were inserted, I was surprised at how I could still carry on a simple conversation with the doctor. That’s how simple the procedure is! And all in all including the waiting time for the anesthetic to kick in, it actually took less than an hour.

The photos below show where the needle was inserted to guide the thread in and position it in the right place.

Right after the procedure, we took some after shots to compare with the ones we took before just less than an hour ago, and these are the immediate results!

You can clearly see that my nose bridge is sharper and overall my nose is more contoured. I am really happy with the results and the best part is how you can quickly make this a lunchtime treatment without any downtime needed. I even went on to teach a class, a couple of hours after this.

Seeing the before and after pictures, and now being able to wear my sunglasses without having it slipped off my nose and sitting on my cheeks, I have only wished I had done this earlier!

I’m clearly pleased with the results of the threadlift treatment that was done at Halley Medical Aesthetics and I would confidently recommend them to anyone looking to enhance their features or achieve a more defined look for their nose.

Taken just minutes after I left the clinic. I love how there was no swelling or bruising after the procedure and that I could just go about my usual activities.

Taken two weeks after the threadlift treatment.

I’m convinced at how safe and convenient this treatment is and would highly recommend Halley Medical Aesthetics to anyone considering a nose threadlift.

Being someone who spends a lot of time on outdoor activities and being under the sun, I do have to put in even more effort and care when it comes to looking after my hair and skin. And especially since I have long hair, it shows very easily when my hair is dry and stressed from being outdoors in the humidity and in the swimming pool.
With four active little girls, it is inevitable that we spend a lot of playtime outdoors and in the water and I’m very particular when it comes to choosing suitable hair care products as they do enjoy using the same products as their mommy does. A fragrant scent is a must-have and so is the ease of use. I really don’t have the luxury of time when it comes to sitting a hair salon often for a treatment and neither does it work for me to spend too much time in the
bathroom waiting for hair oils or masks to take effect after half an hour.

When I was introduced recently to Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Hair Masque, I was immediately smitten with the lovely scent of the product. The adorable packaging and pink Tangle Tamer was a really nice touch too. My kids have even been taking turns brushing their manes with it ever since it came out of the box.

Opening the adorable box that the mask and Tangle Tamer came in just made me smile because I absolutely love the tropics and this just makes me think of coconut trees and the beach!
Now what’s so special about Coco & Eve’s Hair Masque apart from the beautiful scent and lovely packaging? It’s actually vegan friendly, animal-friendly (not tested on animals) and gluten free! Its also made without parabens which can dry out and damage our hair,and is free from phathalates and sulphates that is
present in over 98.9% of other hair products out there. As a mother to young children, this is definitely good news for me and I am more than happy to share my first tub of hair masque from Coco & Eve with them.
The ingredients in the hair masque actually include raw virgin coconuts and fig, which are superstars when it comes to restoring your hair and it shows even after just one treatment! The other ingredients include shea butter, argan oil and linseed. These together help to hydrate our manes, prevent split ends, unfizz hair and add glorious shine that I really appreciated after I dried my hair from the first treatment.
The pastel pink Tangle Tamer came in really handy when it comes to evenly
spreading the hair masque from root to tip in the shower.
I love how I only need to leave the masque on for only 10 minutes to reap the full benefits of the hydrating and restoring benefits of the powerful ingredients.

Check out my before and after pictures below. You can clearly see how after just one use Coco & Eve’s Like a Virgin Hair Masque has helped smoothen out my hair. But the softness of my mane and that wondrous tropical fragrance is what
convinces me to want to stock up on this power-packed hair care product
already.

Not only is my hair so soft to touch now after using the hair masque for over a week, I also noticed that my split ends have been repaired and tamed. The silky texture of my hair stays that way even after playing outdoors for hours with my kids! And you imagine how happy I am that my girls all have that same silky soft feel to their hair because I don’t have to worry about tangles and brushing their hair all the time. I only wish there could be a packaging it comes in that makes it so convenient to travel with and take along in my gym bag every day.

At the of how my kids and I are using up this gem of a hair masque, I’m so going to order a few more tubs online at cocoandeve.com just to make sure that we don’t run out of this ridiculously great product!

Thank you Coco & Eve for pampering my little girls and I. This is definitely a must-have staple in our household now!

Eating well and staying active has always helped me in slowing down the aging
process but there’s only so much that it can do. So when I got to speak with
Dr. Terence Tan, Director of Halley Medical Aesthetics about how dermal fillers can safely help to restore my skin’s volume and youthfulness, I decided to give it a try.

During the consultation, I learnt about how dermal fillers are actually made of safe medical ingredients developed for injection into the skin. It helps in not only smoothening out wrinkles, but is also able to sculpt the face for more definition and restore facial contours, all of which allows one to regain a youthful appearance. And I’m not one who goes for drastic options like surgery to slow down the process of aging, so a non-invasive approach like this while letting me address my issue with laugh lines was a solution I would take up.

The lines around my eyes are what bothered me the most although Dr. Terence Tan had also pointed out that when I converse, my facial expressions very often result in my forehead scrunching up so he recommended the treatment areas to include my under-eye area, center of my forehead as well as my laugh lines around my mouth. He also suggested a tiny bit of filler to my chin, to give it a little more definition.

Honestly I was concerned that it would involve more than one injection.

And you can see here how that worry was written all over my face. But Dr. Terence Tan reassured me that the procedures would involve minimal discomfort and I felt even more reassured when he informed me that he would be using a micro-cannula or “magic needle” to administer the dermal filler. This basically is an extremely soft and pliable cannula that slides beneath our skin to allow for more even distribution of the filler without much discomfort.

Dr. Terence Tan recommended the Juvederm range of fillers to address my areas of concern and we eventually settled on the three types of filler under the Juvederm family for use on different parts of the face.

Juvederm Volbella – to plump up my tear trough, mid-face and forehead. This was used to rejuvenate my under-eye area especially on my right side where it was sunken in. Notice the difference in the after pictures below. The mid-face filler puts volume to my cheek area, plumping up what aging has taken away. The forehead filler is more contouring, adding definition to my face.

Juvederm Volift – to smoothen out my smile lines on the side of my mouth and give a more youthful look.

Juvederm Voluma – to subtly enhance my chin for a more defined and sophisticated look.

Dr. Terence Tan also used a combination of these fillers in some of my treatment areas. This is because the Juvederm range of fillers varies in terms of firmness, so combining them gives a more nature-looking result.

I was really surprised that each syringe with each box contained only 1ml of filler. You’ve got to be extremely precise and skillful to administer the adequate minute amount in each area.

We proceeded with taking several “before” shots so that we could compare the difference after the treatment.

Much to my relief the entire process was not uncomfortable at all and I was able to chat with everyone throughout the treatment. Dr. Terence Tan was really great at letting me know what to expect and the interaction kept my mind off overthinking, so before I knew it we were done with the dermal filler treatment!

Very skillful hands at work to ensure minimal discomfort and precise administration of the dermal filler.

This being my first time experiencing getting a cannula poked onto my face, I must say it has dispelled a lot of fear that I used to have especially since the doctor and nurses here are so professional and assuring.

I did ask Dr. Terence Tan how long the effects of the filler would last and depending on each individual, it can stay for as long as 1.5 to 2 years.

Before and after frontal shot.Before and after. Right sideBefore and after. Left side.

Seeing the after effects of the treatment and comparing my before and after pictures taken just less than an hour apart, I was extremely impressed because I can notice the improvement immediately and the best part? No downtime needed! I even went to workout a couple of hours right after I left the clinic.

Taken before the dermal filler treatment at Halley Medical Aesthetics, you can clearly see my tear trough and lines around my eyes and mouth.

Taken just after I left the clinic and without make-up so you can see the difference in my under-eye area as well as the smoothening out of the lines next to my mouth.

What is Propolis? And what’s so great about it?If you’re ever down with a cold or having a really bad sore throat, this is one arsenal you’d want to have.

Propolis is produced by bees and they use it to glue the materials of their hives together by mixing beeswax and other secretions of resins from the buds of conifers and poplar trees. But truly it’s better used not just for the binding of hives but in the the treatment of burns, minor wounds, ulcers, Candida, infections, inflammations and even herpes.

For centuries, people have used Propolis as a remedy for acne, itching, tuberculosis and even cancer.The reason why it’s used in this myriad of ailments is because Propolis is a proven antibiotic and antiseptic. It doesn’t just guard the beehive against intruders but is also used to treat unwanted health conditions because of its antomicrobial, antioxidative, anti-ulcer and anti-tumor properties.

Scientists havefound that bee Propolis actually contains over 300 natural compounds, including amino acids, coumarins, phenolic aldehydes, polyphenols,sequiterpene quinines and steroids. And the interesting thing about propolis, which is also true for good quality honey,is that its composition is always going to vary depending upon the exact collection time, collection location and plant sources. This causes the color of the honey to vary too.

Since understanding the properties and benefits of Propolis, I started carrying around a bottle of this natural remedy and consuming honey on an almost daily basis. Not only has it helped me stay virus free even when people around where suffering from colds, it soothes my throat really quickly even after I’ve been teaching and talking for 6 hours in a day. Unless you have an allergy to bee product, I do highly recommend keeping this handy and it’s safe even for little children to consume.

This is the brand of Propolis and honey that I use:GoPure.sg and you can also find their pop-up retail section at Trium Fitness located at Aperia Mall, 12 Kallang Avenue, #03-01, S339511.

I always look forward to the weekend mornings because I get to workout with the cutest little distractions ever. Having kids has never made it such that I have no time to get my training done. In fact, they make it way more entertaining sometimes ❤️

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It is true that with children and having to work I don’t have very much ME time left. But when I do make the time to work out no matter how short the session may be, it always helps me feel more energized and infused with those happy hormones.

So to fellow moms, I know it always sounds daunting at first. But with a little time management and creativity, it’s always possible to spend a few minutes a few times each day to fit in some exercise and it’s more than just doing something for ourselves. We’re setting an example for the little ones too.

After working for over 2 weeks in a row without a day off, I’m really looking forward to just recovering over this long weekend. .

And these Impact Tights from C3fit are just perfect for helping me recover quickly and improving the quality of rest. Of course having a little cherub planting kisses on me throughout the day helps immensely too ☺️❤️.

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Even though these compression tights provide the firmest level of support in the series of C3fit tights, the 3D design and 4-way stretch dry mesh material still allows for optimal leg movement and breath ability. .

Check out the range of C3fit recovery gear available at @triplefit.sg and soon to be available at @trium.fitness